"That's right," Jiang Chen said frankly.
He didn't hide NAC's power because there was no need to. Once the NAC flag flew above Jia City, the survivors, merchants, and mercenaries would naturally bring this powerful yet unfamiliar name to the entire wasteland.
While he was observing Kong Qian, Kong Qian was also observing him.
"I sense danger from you."
"Can I interpret this as a compliment?" Jiang Chen crossed his legs and said in a joking tone.
"Of course. Our merchants are all over the country. There are very few forces on the wasteland that can make us feel fear. The Northern Alliance Area is one, and you are also one. "Kong Qian smiled.
"Because of my guns?"
"Because of your ambition." Kong Qian stared into Jiang Chen's eyes.
It was impolite in a friendly meeting, but he still did it. He tried to find something in Jiang Chen's eyes that could prove his conjecture. But the fact was, he did it because Jiang Chen didn't hide his ambition.
"Why do you think so?" Jiang Chen smiled.
"From the layout of this base." Kong Qian moved his butt and looked around the room. "And this office. Generally, those who were fanatical about order would have a high standard of living for themselves and their neighbors. Of course, the most obvious example is the name NAC. New Asia Cooperation Organization? Great name. "
"Feeling uneasy?" Jiang Chen only asked dubiously to Kong Qian's comments.
"That's right," Kong Qian said without hesitation. "Our merchants are considering a problem. If you remove this nail in the middle of the road, who can guarantee that you won't move from Jia City to Hang City? "
"So your suggestion?" Jiang Chen smiled.
"Let Jia City become our buffer zone. Without the road, our merchants can develop the shallow sea or use Tai Lake. But without this nail, we won't be able to sleep well, "Kong Qian looked into Jiang Chen's eyes and proposed seriously.
"That's impossible." Jiang Chen rejected without hesitation. "Even if we don't initiate the attack, the mutated humans will attack us in the winter. By then, they will have the advantage, and it's hard to guarantee that the war won't burn through Taifu River. I will not use a temporary peace to gamble on an inevitable war. "
"We can help you build a fortress along the river." Kong Qian extended a finger and said seriously, "Five hundred thousand crystals, as long as you promise not to march west."
Jiang Chen was not tempted by his proposal.
"That's a shame. We have raised two million crystals through the issuance of war bonds."
The negotiations reached an impasse.
Kong Qian and Jiang Chen stared at each other in silence.
After a while, he suddenly smiled and said.
"Do you know why the Mutants have so many weapons?"
"Why?" Jiang Chen asked nonchalantly.
"According to intelligence, an organization called the Dusk that migrated from the Northern Alliance Area is providing them with logistical support," Kong Qian said with a faint smile.
The information was outdated. When the Dusk Church sent Sun Xiaorou to assassinate him, Jiang Chen used a special method to pry out the conspiracy of the Dusk Church from her mouth. He understood that the man named Bo Yu provided assistance to the mutated humans.
In fact, it was not difficult to speculate on this point. The Mutants were clearly weak in terms of industrial capabilities, but they had heavy machine guns and even cannons and other heavy firepower weapons in their hands. Jiang Chen would not believe that no one supported them.
But from Kong Qian's faint smile, Jiang Chen read a different meaning.
"Are you threatening me?" Jiang Chen looked into his eyes and asked dubiously.
"I haven't said anything yet. But since we are a merchant organization, we reserve the right to invest in any project with value. "Kong Qian shrugged.
Jiang Chen sneered.
[Hehe, it is already so obvious, but you still don't dare to admit it?]
"You are playing with fire."
"I am looking for the possibility of cooperation between the two parties." Kong Qian corrected him without backing down.
Jiang Chen suddenly stood up.
Kong Qian's eyes flashed with a hint of nervousness, but he quickly regained his composure.
"If you think you can stop us from wiping out the mutated humans in Jia City by funding them, then you can go ahead and try." Jiang Chen walked in front of him and looked down into his eyes. "But I am telling you clearly, if you really want to help the mutated humans."
Kong Qian couldn't breathe due to the pressure. He held his breath as he waited for the dictator's next words.
Jiang Chen grinned as he said the words Kong Qian didn't want to hear the most.
"That is war."
The atmosphere in the office instantly froze, but the frozen atmosphere quickly dissipated with Jiang Chen's next words.
"Of course, I believe with your foresight, you will not make such a stupid choice."
Kong Qian's eyes wavered for a moment, but he finally nodded hesitantly.
"Excellent, then welcome back to the negotiation table." Jiang Chen smiled as he sat back down on the sofa.
With the pressure gone, Kong Qian finally took a deep breath of fresh air.
He suddenly realized that his back was soaked in cold sweat.
…
The negotiation finally ended in a peaceful atmosphere.
Jiang Chen didn't plan to discuss the details of the fall military operation with him. Instead, he talked about how to cooperate with him on the trade route after he took over Jia City. Although the war hadn't started yet, Jiang Chen already saw the mutated humans' territory as his own.
Kong Qian was still concerned about Jiang Chen's territory bordering Hang City after he took over Jia City. But with Jiang Chen's firm stance, he couldn't do anything.
After reaching an agreement on the trade routes, supply stations, and sentry posts, Kong Qian took his leave in a hurry.
Seeing Kong Qian leave, Han Junhua walked in.
"Why didn't you detain him?"
"Because it's pointless." Jiang Chen yawned as he waved his hand. "A loose government is so annoying. Even if you kill its leader, it can choose another one after a meeting. In other words, this kind of leader was a mascot or something like that. When I shook hands with him, I knew he was not a professional businessman. "
A professional businessman wouldn't get calluses from touching guns. Rather than saying he was a leader, it was more accurate to say he was a spokesperson pushed to the front by a group of businessmen.
"You don't seem to be worried about Hang City's reaction?" Han Junhua asked.
"They need a market, and we have the largest market in the entire Suhang province. Safety or crystals, they must make a choice, and I'm certain they will choose the latter. Especially, my attitude toward the Sixth Street businessmen has calmed their emotions. Even if NAC takes over the defense, their assets won't suffer any losses … Most businessmen will think this way. "Jiang Chen got up and walked to his desk.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Please come in."
It was Wang Qin who walked in. Her expression was stern.
"General, there's news from the Sixth Street. Recently, mutant activity in the rural area has increased. Including mutants such as mutated cockroaches and mutated rats, they have shown aggressive behavior. Under normal circumstances, these mutants won't actively attack survivors … There are rumors that Wanghai City is preparing for the second mutant flood. "
"Mutant flood?" Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows.
He hadn't experienced the mutant flood before, but he heard it was terrifying. A few years ago, before the World Alliance Organization launched the colonization ship, Wanghai City experienced a mutant flood. Rumors said that the former government forces stationed at the research institute near the city center were driven out of the city by the violent mutants.
The Sixth Street was also impacted, but fortunately, with the equipment left behind by the World Alliance Organization, they were able to stop the mutant flood. It was also at that time that the Sixth Street established the rule of the Group of Ten Council.
But at this time …
Wang Qin nodded.
"Tell Wang Zhaowu to pay attention. He's closer to the city center. I'll give him the authority to open the fallout shelter door and allow him to lead the residents into the fallout shelter when necessary. Also, increase the fallout shelter's energy reserve to 100 fuel rods. You should be responsible for this. "Jiang Chen ordered.
"Understood." Wang Qin nodded.
Each fallout shelter's opening time span was huge. No one knew when the other fallout shelters in Wanghai City would open. Once they lost Fallout Shelter 027, it would mean that NAC's research ability would drop by more than one level. Jiang Chen, of course, wouldn't allow that to happen. If the mutant flood really happened, he first needed to ensure the safety of the scientists.
Regardless of whether the mutant flood really happened, it was always good to be prepared.
"… Also, set up a temporary fallout shelter in the sewers. Prepare temporary bunkers, beds, nutrient supply, and heaters. Although we all know these things won't be used in the end, just in case, you should prepare them. "
"Okay." Wang Qin nodded. Seeing that Jiang Chen didn't have any more instructions, she turned around and left.
Jiang Chen paused for a moment before he looked at Han Junhua.
"In the next few days … Mhmm, maybe half a month. I have some things to do out of town. You can discuss it with Sun Jiao. When I'm not here, she'll take over. That's it. Once the mutant flood happens, I'll immediately come back. "
Jiang Chen thought Han Junhua would ask him where he was going, but surprisingly, she only nodded.
"Okay. But my suggestion is, if the mutant flood happens, as the general, you shouldn't risk returning to the dangerous area. "
"I'll come back because there are people who are very important to me here," Jiang Chen said seriously.
"… I'll protect them for you." Han Junhua's tone was emotionless as she promised.
"Thank you. But don't be too nervous. Maybe the rumors are just rumors. "
Jiang Chen patted her on the shoulder and walked out of the office.
The door closed.
Han Junhua stared at the closed door for a long time before she pinched her face.
Then she put her hand down.
"Strange."
She used an emotionless tone to murmur to herself as she looked out the window.
The sun was bright outside the window, and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky.
However, this kind of clear sky made her feel like it was unreal.
It felt like the calm before the storm.
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